Testing device for accumulators.



- ports C.

OLIVER P. FRITCHLE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, .ASSIGNOR TO THE FRITCHLE AUTOMOBILE AND BATTERY COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OFCOLORADO.

`TESTING. DEVICE FOR AccUMULAToRs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten Apr. 2o, 1915.

Application led December 27, 1909. Serial No. 534,973.

know the condition of charge o1 discharge ot' the battery. Usually, theoperator wishes to know how many miles the machine will run before thebattery gives out, and I have devised a scale attachment by which thisinformation can be 'read directly from the scale of the instrument, andhave also provided an adjustable indicator adapted to.

enable readings tovbe taken from the scale under the varying conditionsof `use of the automobile, as in rough or smooth country, as well asunder the varying capacity of the battery due to its length of use.

In the drawings,-Figure l is an elevation of the apparatus, parts beingshown in .section;` and Fig.y 2 is an elevation showing a modified formof scale indicator.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is a battery cell, shown as of the usualstorage-battery type. B is one plate of the battery, resting on sup- The Wall of the cell has near the bottom an opening D, across which isplaced a flexible diaphragm E of some thin material, such as rubber,which is not affected by the solution used in the cell. .The flexiblediaphragm may be cemented to the cell, or, when the cell is of hardrubber, may be formed integrally therewith during the vulcanization.Surrounding the opening is a chamber F which is connected by a tube G toa glass tube H havinga bulb or expansion I at the top, and a small ventopening K, the chamber and connected tubes containing a liquid of lessspecific gravity than that contained in the cell A. As such a liquid maybe used sulfuric acid of 1.100 specific gravity, colored with somematerial such as fuchsin, though any other liquid of dili'erent specificgravity from that used in the cell may be used, care being taken thatsuch liquid is not of a kind to injuriously/ affect the battery platesin case of its accidental admission to thev battery cell. lVhen -thecell is of the type in which sulfuric acid is used; this acid beforecharging is of about 1.100 specific gravity, while then fully charged itis of about 1.300 specific gravity. The colored liquid in the tube H,when the battery is fully charged stands at a level above that of theAliquid in the cell, the dexible diaphragm serving to transmit thehydrostatic pressure from one` column to the other, while keeping theliquids separated. I prefer to provide the device with a second glasstube L connected by a tube M to an opening N in the wall of the cell A,this tube serving as an indicator of the level of the liquid in thecell. Mounted back of the tubes is a scale-plate O, adjustably securedto a support by means of a thumb-screw P, engaging the sides'of a slot Qin said support. This scale plate is provided with 'graduations, twosets being shown, though one only may be used. One set of graduations ismarked as from specific gravity 1.100 to specic gravity 1.300: the otherbeing marked from 0-100 to indicate miles. As the rate at which energyis supplied de` pends on a number of conditions, such as the rate ofdrop in voltage of the battery, its increase in internal resistance anddecrease in rate of supply of acid to theactive material, and is notdirectly proportional to the change of specific gravity in the battery,the intervals between these mile graduations must gradually decrease.from the bottom to the top.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modified form of adjustable scale, supported ona rod R, and having arms S, T, adjustably secured to said rod R, and avertical connecting piecc U, on which is mounted a lazy-tongs devicecarrying at certain of its angles, plates l on which the scaleindications are marked. A clamping device 2 carried by one member of thelazy-tongs andengaging the rod U `serves Vto hold the scale in itsadjusted posiwith y this level. The indications afforded.

by the level of the liquid in the tube L are The gradual change of levelof the liquid in the tube H Will indicate the `change in can be read onthe specific gravity scale, and the quantity of energy output of Whichthe battery is capable will be indicated on the other scale in mileswhich the machine canv run.

The specific gravity scale Y'may be adjusted and held in place by thescrew V, the stem of which passes through the slot VV into the backplate'. i

The adjustableV miles-v indicating scale shown in Fig. 2 provides ameans for proper adjustment of the scale indications for varyingconditions of use. Thus With a given battery, a machine'may be capableof making 100 miles on good country roads, more than that distance oncity streets, and less on hilly or muddy roads. By opening out thelazy-tongs, the proper maximum indication can be brought intocorrespondence with the maximum-charge indication as shown by thecolored liquid.

A few mileage tests made in the locality Where the machine is to beused, Will enable the scale to be adjusted to correspond with the totalmileage the machine is capable of making in that locality.

By the term mean-s for hydrostatically connecting as used in the claims,is meant j any means by which the variations of pressure, due to changeof density of the liquid in the battery cell, are transmitted to theliquid in the indicatingtube, while keeping the two liquids separated.While I prefer to use in the indicating tube a liquid 'of less specificgravity than Ithat contained inthe battery cell, obviously a liquid ofthe same or even greater specific gravity may be used.

l. The combination with a battery cell containing an electrolyte Whosespecific gravity is variable, of a. tube containing liquid of constantspecific gravity, means forI hydrostatically connecting the liquid inthe cell `and that in the tube, and a graduated scale arranged toindicate changes of liquid level in the tube.

2. The combination with( a battery cell containing'y an electrolytewhose, specific gravity is variable, of a tube containing liquid ofconstant specific gravity, a iexible diaphragm separating the liquid inthe cell from thatin the tube, and av graduated scale arranged toindicate changes of liquid level in the tube.

3. The combination with a batteryV cell containing an electrolyte whosespecific gravity is variable, of a. tube containing liquid of constantspecific gravity, means for i Y sumption. speciiic'gravity ofthe batteryHuid, Which hydrostatically connecting the liquid in the f cell and thatin the tube, and a graduated scale arranged to indicate changes ofliquid, level in the tube, the graduations also arranged to indicate thedegree of energy con- 4. The combination With a Ybattery cell containingan electrolyte whose `specific gravity is variable, of a tube containingliquid of constant specific gravity, a flexible diaphragm separating theliquid in the cell from that in the tube, and a 'graduated scalearranged to indicate changes of liquid i level in the tube, thegraduations also arranged to indicate the degree of energy consumption.I

5. The combination With a battery cellcontaining an electrolyte Whosespecific gravity is' variable, of a. tube containing a liquid ofconstant specific gravity and opening into the, cell near its base;means separating the liquid in the tube from that in.

containing an electrolyte Whose specific gravity is variable, of a tubecontaining a liquid of constant specific gravity and openf ing into thecell near its base; means separating the liquid in the tube from that inj the cell, said means being yieldable in accordance With thehydrostatic pressure in the cell; a scale-carrying member arranged incoperative relation to said tube and provided with graduations to'coperate ,with the liquid level in the tube.

7. The combination with a battery cell containing an electrolyte Whosespecific gravity is variable, of a tube containing liquid of constantspecific gravity, means for hydrostatically connecting the liquid in thecell and that'in the tube, and a graduated scale arranged to indicatechanges `of liquid level in the tube, comprising graduations at unequalintervals and means for relative adjustment of the graduations.

8. The combination with I a battery cell containing an electrolyte Whosespecific gravity is variable, of a tube 'containing liquid of constantspecific gravity, a flexible diaphragm separating the liquid in the cellfrom that in the tube, and a graduated scale arranged to indicatechangesof liquid level in the tube comprising 'graduations at un-4 umn ofliquid, the level 0f which is changed by changes in the specific gravityof electrolyte in the battery cell, and a'graduated scale arranged toindicate the changes in level of the column of liquid, the graduationsof Said scale being at unequal intervals and means for relativeadjustment of the graduations.

10. In combination with a battery cell, an energy-content indicatorcomprising a flexible diaphragm separating two bodies of liquid one ofsaid liquids being of constant specific gravity and serving as anindicating agent, and the other an electrolyte of variable specilicgravity serving to distend the diaphragm and eXert pressure upon theindicatingliquid changing its level corresponding to changesin thespecific gravity of the electrolyte, and a graduated scale arranged toindicate the changes inylevel of the indicating liquid,

justments of the graduations.

n said graduationsibeing at unf equal lntervals and means for relativeadcontaining an electrolyte Whose speciic the two liquids responding tovariations in specific gravity of theelectrolyte and serving to changethe level of the liquid in the tube, thereby indicating theenergy-content of the cell.

12. The combination with a battery cell containing an electrolyte Whosespecilic gravity is variable, of a tube adapted to contain an indicatingliquid, a flexible diaphragm separating Vthe indicating liquid from theelectrolyte, and adapted by changes in the speciiic gravity of theelectrolyte to variably press the indicating liquid, thereby indicatingthe energy-content of the cell.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER P. FRITCI-ILE. Witnesses: p

J. R. REED, M. A. ELLIS.

